"What, Therese? What is frightful?" asked her mother.
"Look at your mother, Therese," said Mesmer. She heard the well-beloved voice, and her hands fell from her eyes.
"Now tell me, what disturbs you," said Frau von Paradies.
Therese raised her hand and pointed to her mother's nose. "It is that," said she. "What is it?"
"It is my nose!" exclaimed her mother, laughing, and her laugh was echoed throughout the room.
"This nose on the human face is horrible," said Therese. "It threatens me as though it would stab my eyes." [Footnote: These are the exact words of Therese. Justinus Kerner, p 68.]
"I will show you the figure of a man who threatens," said Mesmer, assuming an angry air, clinching his fists, and advancing a few paces.
Therese fell upon her knees with a cry. "You will kill me!" exclaimed she, cowering to the floor.
The spectators were thunderstruck. Even Professor Barth yielded to the overwhelming evidence of his senses.
"By Heaven, it is no deception!" exclaimed he. "She sees!"